YAHOO! SEEKING OPEN ALLIANCE WITH GOOGLE — Yahoo! executives are scrambling to finalize a search-advertising pact with Google in the face of a fresh challenge to its independence from billionaire investor Carl Icahn, The Post has learned. — According to two sources close to the situation …

Data Portability: It's The New Walled Garden — The scuffle today between Facebook and Google has very little to do with user privacy and everything to do with user control. A huge battle is underway between Google, MySpace and Facebook around control of user profiles and, therefore, users themselves.

MacBook upgrade set for Q3 — Apple is moving toward the release of a redesigned MacBook, a new report emanating from the company's Asian Mac manufacturers claims. — AU Optronics Corp. and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. have been signed-up to produce flat-panel screens for the new MacBook models …

Thunder To Battle iPhone?! Well, Maybe Some Day Just Not Now — The rumor mill once again is churning big time in the battle between BlackBerry and iPhone, Research in Motion — And now comes word of the Thunder. — Speculation is rampant all over the web that RIM is readying the touch screen Thunder for release in the Fall.

‘$100 laptop’ platform moves on — An independent effort to develop the software originally designed for the $100 laptop has been launched. — Sugar Labs will take the laptop's innovative interface, known as Sugar, to the “next level of usability and utility”, according to its founders.

App Engine Launcher for Mac OS X — While I was writing scenario applications to test Google App Engine, I had the following idea: If BBEdit, Dreamweaver, CSSEdit, and TextMate were at a party, what kind of application would be welcomed to help with App Engine development?

Nintendo Wii outsells 360, PS3, PS2, PSP combined in April — The NPD console sales numbers have been released for April, stuffed with fascinating content. How did the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto stack up against each other? Did Mario Kart Wii sell as many copies as expected?

Vodafone Announces the Acquisition of ZYB — Vodafone* today announces that it has agreed to acquire 100% of ZYB, a privately-owned company based in Denmark which operates a social networking and online management tool enabling mobile phone users to back-up and share their handsets' contact and calendar information online.

Yahoo and WPP in Partnership — YAHOO plans to announce Friday that it has formed a partnership with the WPP Group, the advertising holding company, that will give WPP's clients a broader swath of Web sites where they can aim their messages. — Under the deal, the thousands of Web publishers …

Sidekick Slide Scarlet Available Now For $199 — The rumored Sidekick Slide Scarlet (read: red edition) is available now from T-Mobile. It's just about the same as the regular Sidekick Slide, with myFaves support, QVGA display, microSD slot, 1.3-megapixel camera and all the Sidekick features that kids love.

Time Warner Chairman likely to step down — NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc Chairman Richard Parsons said he is likely to step down in the next year, clearing the path for Chief Executive Jeffrey Bewkes to assume the role. — During opening remarks at the media company's annual shareholders meeting …